NBA Playoff Recap: Warriors Drub Rockets, 114-81, to Advance

Klay Thompson scored 27 points, and the Golden State Warriors routed the Houston Rockets, 114-81, in Game 5 of the teams’ first-round NBA Playoff series in Oakland on Wednesday night. With the victory, defending NBA champion Golden State clinched the best-of-seven series, 4-1, and advanced to the second round of the NBA playoffs.

James Harden had a game-high 35 points for Houston. The Rockets fell behind 37-20 after the first quarter and never seriously threatened in the game — or the series, even though Warriors’ superstar guard Stephen Curry missed most of the games with injuries to his ankle and knee.

Draymond Green had 15 points and nine rebounds for Golden State, which advanced to play the winner of the Portland-L.A. Clippers series in the Western Conference semifinals. Portland won, 108-98, on Wednesday to take a 3-2 lead in that series.